refit in 7 years at Pendennis, and restored the 1950s 33 m Benetti ‘Odyssey III’. The year before they completed a year’s refit on the motor yacht Aquila, the largest privately owned yacht refitted in the UK, revitalising all five deck levels. The average size yacht in the yard in 2017 was 55 m, that’s just over 180 feet, these are big boats.
The shipyard was akin to a museum of superyachts, with numerous examples of different yacht styles, from sailing to motorised. In 2009 Pendennis presented a new build, Steel, a 55.02 m luxury yacht, with the interior design created by Liebowitz & Pritchard and they are now turning their attention to creating more new bespoke builds to fill the gaps in between seasons. It is currently for sale at around €27.5 million and available to view in Falmouth. Pendennis have refitted superyachts such as Constance, Aquila, Lionheart, Lady K, White Star, and remodelled (redesign of the hull and superstructure) the Audacia, Adela, Illusion, and the M5. They have also rebuilt (rebuilding the vessel from hull up) A2 and Malahne. Restoration projects include Shamrock
V (J-Class yacht),
Malahne, Dona Amelia, Fair Lady, Adela, Heavenly Daze, and Odyssey III, stripping back years of wear to reveal their inner beauty, whilst
character and heritage. They have many British
clients, but
around 35% are American, so this British shipyard is highly regarded all over the world, in a competitive market. They pride themselves on looking
after the yacht
They were asked to elongate one ship so that water toys could be stored at the back, rather than at the front where they had to be carefully manoeuvred to the stern each time they wanted to use them. This required cutting the ship in half and adding a new five metre segment, reshaping the hull, the deck and the cabin accordingly. I’m not sure if I can think of a better example of bespoke remodelling than this. The skills, knowledge and time required were impressive to say the least and the yacht looked immaculate sitting up there on the dry dock above me.
Weirdly enough Pendennis also built the Lords Cricket Ground media pod, constructed in Falmouth then dismantled and reassembled at Lords. It was even awarded the 1999 Stirling Prize, by the Royal Institute of British Architects. Last year they refitted the Mariette, a 1915, 42 m classic twin master schooner, its fourth
owners and crew too, providing a secluded base from which to relax and enjoy the best this beautiful corner of England provides. They will also organise accommodation and concierge service for crews to make the experience a luxurious home from home. There is even a private onsite helicopter pad, though it was the travel hoist that most impressed me, able to lift 640 tonnes.
Mike Carr shared his profit margin with me and there is no room for error. Pendennis
survives by providing an
extraordinary service, with world leading computer aided design, exterior and interior outfitters, joiners, engineering, craftsmanship, superior knowledge and skills at competitive prices. No wonder they have such a high customer retention and return rate. They also have Pendennis Palma, started in 2011, servicing yachts in the Mediterranean, with access to a facility that provides 70,000 m² ground
surreymagazineonline.co.uk 51
surface, 35,000 m² surface mooring, 6 pits for
deep draft sailboats,
a 5,000 m²
workshop, a high flow gas station and 5 travel lifts. The future seems rosy for them too, they are looking to invest even further in new technology, such as innovative new scanning equipment to speed up their processes.
Pendennis and the superyachts that retaining the original
emerge from their yard are a tribute to the people that work there, it is a luxury niche brand that shares a passion for craftsmanship with a love of quality and detail. The collection of yachts before me were testament to the extraordinary and unique market position that Pendennis occupy. A company that brings together so many historical trade skills in ship building, refitting and restoring based in such an advantageous location down in Cornwall. They are trusted and respected by the largest and most luxurious superyacht owners in the world and have earned their reputation as the first port of call for skilled refits.
They have many new projects in the pipeline, including both prestigious sailing yachts and motor yachts and it will be fascinating to see just what new and seemingly impossible tasks they will be asked to undertake next.
www.pendennis.com
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